Ellis Hobbs

The following off-season, after witnessing the failure of last year’s decisions (promoting Ellis Hobbs to right corner back and signing Deltha O’Neal), the Pats again addressed the problem area by drafting Darius Butler and signing veterans Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. 

Continue reading "Very INTeresting"

arch for a full-time returner continues. 

During the off-season the Patriots traded away CB Ellis Hobbs because he wasn’t a good enough corner back. But he was the Patriots best kickoff returner, hands down. In his last three years, Hobbs averaged 28.4 yards per return and scored three times, including setting a Patriots record with a 108-yard touchdown return in 2007. Replacing that production won’t be easy. 

Continue reading "Specialists Wanted"

arch for a full-time returner continues. 

During the off-season the Patriots traded away CB Ellis Hobbs because he wasn’t a good enough corner back. But he was the Patriots best kickoff returner, hands down. In his last three years, Hobbs averaged 28.4 yards per return and scored three times, including setting a Patriots record with a 108-yard touchdown return in 2007. Replacing that production won’t be easy. 

Continue reading "Specialists Wanted"

rs: 

27: Darius Butler - Drafted in the second round, he must had been handed the jersey by Ellis Hobbs as he was traded to Philadelphia on the second day. Hobbs won’t be missed, and I hope Butler will give us better memories of 27 making plays instead of giving up plays. 

Continue reading "Numbers Game"

ose track of what you’re doing while repeating this task? 

Could that had been how CB Ellis Hobbs got sent packing to Philadelphia? I think while deciding to “trade down” “trade down” “trade down,” they accidentally threw in Hobbs in exchange for two fifth round picks. 

Continue reading "Ellis Hobbs: Addition by Subtraction"

With the exception being safety Brandon Merriweather, few in the secondary made plays. CB Ellis Hobbs made a few plays, but gave up more plays than he made. Maybe with Springs on the team, he can take the primary corner role and allow Hobbs to return to the right side of the field. 

Continue reading "Warming to Springs in New England"

can effectively rush the quarterback and maybe another cornerback to add to the competition between Ellis Hobbs, Jonathan Wilhite, and Terrence Wheatley. Finding the kind of LB that would fit in New England will be tougher this year.

Continue reading "A Difficult Search for Patriots-type Players"

New England's cornerbacks measure 5-9 Ellis Hobbs, 5-11 Jonathan Wilhite, and 5-11 Deltha O'Neal.

Thankfully, it looks like Boldin will not play Sunday. But even without him, the Pats' secondary are at a disadvantage.

Continue reading "Goal to Grow"

r which you are paid.

Who cares, right? Besides, man, do you look good.

Welcome to the minds of Ellis Hobbs and Deltha O'Neal, the Prima Donna cornerbacks that make up half of the Patriots ragged secondary this season. Though they are routinely shredded by opposing receivers for 45 of the 60 minutes on any given Sunday, they can often be seen dancing around the field during the other 15 after making what can only be considered marginally acceptable plays. But boy can they dance.

Continue reading "Quality play? That's secondary to this secondary"

The Patriots were interested in DeAngelo Hall for a reason. It's possible that Ellis Hobbs won't play as well, meaning a secondary already stretched thin is extended a little more. Will this the point where the secondary finally snaps?

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 10"

We saw last week Ellis Hobbs fall hard on his shoulder. He needed to be helped off the field. Lewis Sanders has been in and out of the lineup. And Deltha O'Neal suffered a concussion. If they have to reach for help, they could turn to WR/S Matt Slater, but he was out this week as well. Can Troy Brown still play?

Continue reading "Another One Bit by Bug?"

We already know Rodney Harrison is done for the year.

The sight of CB Ellis Hobbs walking off the field with his left arm dangling after defensing a deep pass late against St. Louis still haunts me. You hate seeing a gutsy player unable to will himself through another play. Even scarier was the fact that Deltha O'Neal, who suffered a concussion earlier in the game, had to come back in for the ailing Hobbs. It's great that O'Neal was heady enough to make the game-sealing interception, but O'Neal might not of had the sense to know his own name at the time. Hobbs didn't practice this week, and neither did reserve DB Lewis Sanders. The Colts on the other hand exchange corners, as Marlin Jackson was placed on IR while Kelvin Hayden appears ready to return to action.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 9"

That's less than two per game.

To make it worse, one sack belongs to CB Ellis Hobbs. That's six sacks in four games by the front seven. That's sad.

Would adding Crable to the rotation improve the pass rush? No guarantee he's the solution the team needs, but maybe this is the time to try something different.

Continue reading "Short on Sacks"

I have my theory, but I won't publicly speculate.

CB Ellis Hobbs is off to a very good start this year. He nearly had a second interception by jumping a slant route. On the day he had two passes defensed. If this is what Hobbs is like when healthy, Ellis will have an excellent season at this pace.

Continue reading "Monday Morning"

ad KC has no chance to recover from, send in CBs Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley in place of Ellis Hobbs and Deltha O'Neal. Give LB Tedy Bruschi's old bones some rest as Gary Guyton bumps helmets with RB Larry Johnson. And while you're at it, LB Shawn Crable could try some new pass rush moves as Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas give him veteran insight from the sideline. Skip Cassel and play Kevin O'Connell, use Matt Slater on both sides of the ball and as a returner. Empty the bench.

Continue reading "Eye to the future"

He's been popular with the press this year. CB Ellis Hobbs' name made frequent appearances in the newspapers, usually attached to quotes. They probably like his outgoing personality and respect his candor.

Continue reading "Can Ellis Man?"

Let's also look at what we learned so far on the defensive end. THEY HAVE NO SOLID CORNER BACKS! Ellis Hobbs is ok but he isn't a number 1 corner, and guess what we have no other corner back to step in and be the number 1 guy. Then again we haven't learned about the corner back situation in the pre season, we knew this after Assante Samuel left the team.

Continue reading "Pre Season Problems For The Pats"

r
OLB Mike Vrabel
ILB Tedy Bruschi
ILB Victor Hobson
OLB Adalius Thomas
CB Ellis Hobbs
CB Fernando Bryant
FS James Sanders
SS Rodney Harrison

The only name absent from last year's offense is Nick Kaczur. I'm having doubts about whether he will remain with the team. It's not just about his off-field issue, though that does play a role. More than anything else, it's his ability to pass protect. I believe Kaczur has problems with speed rushers. Besides New York Giants' defensive end Michael Strahan beating Kaczur for two sacks in Super Bowl 42, I remember Baltimore used special teams LB Antwan Barnes to rush the passer and he beat Kaczur for a sack. The recent signing of Anthony Clement doesn't bode well for Kaczur.

Continue reading "Looking too far ahead"

Eleven players were on the physically unable to perform list:DL Jarvis GreenCB Ellis HobbsOT Nick KaczurOG Stephen NealOT Oliver RossLB Mike VrabelLB Bo RuudWR Wes WelkerC Ryan WendelDL Mike WrightRB BenJarvis Green-Ellis

Continue reading "A dozen PUP-ies"

Lewis Sanders.

Is it really as simple as plugging in the holes? It's very possible that Ellis Hobbs gets switched over from RCB to LCB. The left corner typically covers the opponent's primary receiver, the toughest assignment. I can't imagine that head coach Bill Belichick would start a rookie right out of training camp on the most dangerous receiver.

Continue reading "A Corner in the fold"